Lost your car keys or bought a used Toyota RAV4 without a keyless remote? Don’t worry, programming a new remote key fob for your Toyota RAV4 can be a straightforward process you can do yourself, potentially saving you a trip and expense to the dealership. This guide will walk you through the steps to program a new keyless entry remote for your Toyota RAV4.
System Preparation for Programming
Before you can program your new remote key fob, you need to put your Toyota RAV4 into programming mode. This preparation step is crucial for the vehicle to recognize and accept the new remote signal. Follow these steps carefully:
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Get Ready: Sit in the driver’s seat of your Toyota RAV4. Ensure the driver’s side door is open and unlocked, while all other doors are closed and locked. It’s important to have all doors properly closed or opened as specified for the programming sequence to work.
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Key Insertion Cycle (Twice): Within 5 seconds, you need to insert and remove your key from the ignition twice.
- A – INSERT the key into the ignition. Do not turn it.
- REMOVE the key from the ignition.
- B – INSERT the key into the ignition again. Do not turn it.
- REMOVE the key from the ignition again.
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Door and Key Cycle Sequence: Within 40 seconds of the previous step, perform the following sequence of door closures and key insertions:
- A – CLOSE the driver’s door.
- OPEN the driver’s door.
- B – CLOSE the driver’s door again.
- OPEN the driver’s door again.
- C – INSERT the key into the ignition. Do not turn it.
- REMOVE the key from the ignition.
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Another Door and Key Cycle Sequence: Within 40 seconds of the last step, continue with this sequence:
- A – CLOSE the driver’s door.
- OPEN the driver’s door.
- B – CLOSE the driver’s door again.
- OPEN the driver’s door again.
- C – INSERT the key into the ignition. Do not turn the key. Leave the key in the ignition this time.
- D – CLOSE the driver’s door.
- E – Turn the key in the ignition to the “ON” position (without starting the engine). Then, turn the key back to the “OFF” position.
- F – REMOVE the key from the ignition.
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Confirmation of Programming Mode: Within 3 seconds after removing the key in the previous step, the door locks should automatically cycle – LOCK then UNLOCK. This lock and unlock cycle indicates that your Toyota RAV4 has successfully entered programming mode and is ready to accept the new remote key fob signal. If the locks do not cycle, you will need to return to step 1 and repeat the system preparation process.
Programming Your Remote Key Fob
Once your vehicle is in programming mode, you can proceed to program your new remote key fob. Follow these steps for each remote you wish to program:
- Remote Programming Sequence: Within 40 seconds of the door locks cycling in step 5, perform the following steps to program your remote:
- A – PRESS and HOLD the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the remote key fob simultaneously for about 1.5 seconds. Then, RELEASE both buttons.
- B – PRESS and HOLD the LOCK button on the remote key fob for 2 seconds immediately after releasing the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons.
- Confirmation of Remote Programming: Within 3 seconds of performing step 6B, the door locks should cycle – LOCK then UNLOCK automatically. This lock and unlock cycle confirms that the remote key fob has been successfully programmed. If the door locks cycle twice (LOCK, UNLOCK, LOCK, UNLOCK), it indicates that the remote was not accepted. In this case, repeat steps A and B in step 6 for that specific remote.
- C – Repeat steps A and B in step 6 for each additional new remote key fob you need to program. You can program multiple remotes in this session by repeating this step for each one within the 40-second programming window.
By following these instructions, you should be able to successfully program your new Toyota RAV4 remote car keyless key fob. This DIY approach can save you time and money compared to dealership programming services. Make sure to test each programmed remote to ensure they are working correctly by locking and unlocking your doors remotely. Enjoy the convenience of your keyless entry system!
